ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court sought reports from federal authorities on Monday regarding a delay in judicial appointments affecting 19 nominees and five confirmations.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir issued notices to the presidency, the federation and the Attorney General for Pakistan. He ordered separate reports on the summary’s timeline and current status.
The reports must state when Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif forwarded his advice to President Asif Ali Zardari. They must also identify any action taken by the presidency.
The Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) recommended 19 additional judges and confirmed five others during meetings on July 20 and 21. Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi chaired the commission.
The recommendations covered the Islamabad, Lahore, Sindh, Balochistan and Peshawar high courts.
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Advocate Luqman Zafar Chaudhary filed the public-interest petition through counsel Zahid Asif Chaudhry. The petitioner argued that the presidency could not keep the prime minister’s advice pending indefinitely.
The counsel cited Article 48 of the Constitution. It allows the president to return advice for reconsideration within 15 days.
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The delay has affected five serving judges. Four Peshawar High Court judges left office after their terms expired on Aug. 4.
A Sindh High Court judge also left office when his term expired on July 29. The JCP had recommended extensions or confirmations for those judges.
